Indian tennis singles players Sumit Nagal and Ankita Raina are all set for the upcoming year, having secured their spots in the qualifying round of the Australian Open 2024. The first Grand Slam of the upcoming season will take place in Melbourne, Australia, from January 14-28.
From an Indian perspective, Sumit Nagal and Ankita Raina are the sole representatives to participate in the singles qualifying rounds. Nagal, currently ranked 138th, stands as the top-ranked men’s singles tennis player in India. The 26-year-old, hailing from Jhajjar, Haryana, achieved a notable breakthrough this year, entering the top 150 after making a successful comeback from a serious hip injury suffered in 2021.
Sumit Nagal eyes new heights in the Australian Open 2024
After a relatively slow 2022, Nagal made a triumphant return in 2023, securing victories in two Challenger events and reaching the finals in two others. His journey began with a victory at the Garden Open in Rome, a clay-court event, where he emerged victorious after progressing through the qualifiers.
Remarkably, Nagal became the first Indian player to win a title on European clay by defeating Dutch tennis star Jesper de Jong in the final. Nagal continued his winning streak by clinching the Tampere Challenger in Finland, triumphing over notable opponents like Jiri Vesely, Joao Lucas Reis da Silva, Aziz Dougaz, Daniel Rincon, and Dalibor Svrcina. Despite reaching the finals of the NO Open in Tulln, where he faced a defeat against Vt Kopriva, and the HPP Open in Helsinki, where he lost to Corentin Moutet.
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Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden, Anirudh Chandrasekar-Vijay Sundar Prashanth in doubles category:
Entering the tournament as the second seeds in the doubles section, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, are positioned just behind Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek. Starting the year ranked 19th, Rohan gradually ascended the rankings through consistent performances. He achieved the distinction of being the oldest to win an ATP 1000 Masters event and, alongside his Australian counterpart, reached the final of the US Open.
On the other hand, Yuki Bhambri will be teaming up with the experienced Dutchman Robin Haase. Currently, only two Indians have secured a place in the main draw, but there is a likelihood of several others making it from the alternates list. Sriram Balaji holds the top position on the alternates list alongside Victor Vlad Cornea.
In the sixth spot, the young and experienced duo of Anirudh Chandrasekar and Vijay Sundar Prashanth, followed by Arjun Khade and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan at 10th. Withdrawals from the main draw could potentially pave the way for the alternates to secure their spots.
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